The Bag Lady

Well it wasn’t just a fluke. Mrs. Smythe loved the hrtedyp, well they all did, they just didn’t know it. I mean, who doesn’t love chocolate? It came about on a day in October, you know those days, everything a little cooler, air crisper, crackling leaves on the doorstep. I love those days–but I digress.

It was just such a day, October fifteen, and the village was having a harvest festival. During the festival there were always contests where locals would put up their finest wares, whether it be a large pumpkin, jams and jellies made from their orchards, or landscape paintings of autumn leaves.

Old Mrs. Smythe always won the cake baking contest, yup, every year, with her magical chocolate cake. She never divulged her secret recipe and many excellent bakers tried to replicate this delightful cake but with no success. This year was no different, she proudly displayed the blue ribbon beside her confection. This would be her last victory in the baking contest. The last of her secret ingredient, the dried leaves of hrtedyp were used this year.

She came upon this unusual plant the first year she won the contest. While walking in the woods, she saw it, and since she was a nature lover and used herbs in her everyday cooking, pinched it a bit to learn its scent. It was chocolate, deep and dark and almost overwhelming. She decided to try a chocolate cake recipe adding the mysterious herb.

Then it began, her family adored the flavor so much they insisted she enter the baking contest at the festival. That was ten years ago today. The obscure plant was never to be found again.

https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2018/09/27/tale-weaver-making-sense-of-nonsense-the-last-hrtedyp-27th-september/

Living in an apartment

Is different than a private abode

Everything in every department

Has to have its home

Then there’s the issue of compliance

With etablished rules

Unless you make a manager’s alliance

Which is not easy to do.

Yesterday I visited to sign a new year’s lease

The manager was friendly

Began to chat endlessly with ease

Discussion on her part was mostly a complaint

About the jobs she had to do, believe me, she’s no saint

Then came a delivery of office supplies

She looked at me and rolled her eyes

The worst part of the job she said

Was shelving items, which she dread

Then talked on about packages, her apartment units many

The holidays deliver lots and patience? She has not any

She changed it now, no longer takes deliveries of Christmas gifts

It seems the huge amount arriving seemed to give her fits

I listened and when able to speak, “I’m glad to hear your side.

I like to have deliveries to be left at my door side.

When they came just to your office, it was such a pain

Your open hours are so brief it caused me quite a strain.

I can’t wheel up here when there’s snow or ice”, I said,

“The wheels don’t work and just spin in place on treads.

I’m glad they are told to just deliver to my door”.

Added, “I’m happy you’re not inconvenienced anymore.

I never thought your job could be such a pain”.

I smiled and left, ended listening to her complain.

Alliance – Word of the Day Challenge

Okay, I snuck out of the fence so I could just lay here and look adorable. The visitors to the pound never seem to want puppies. I hear them saying, “First, too much work, need to potty train them, dog classes, they grow too big, look at those paws! Dog beds, not even talking about food, can you imagine how much he’ll be eating in six months? Then there’s the vet, toys, leashes, too much, I tell you!”

Today I have a plan. I’m going to lay here, being my most lovable self, ready to lick small faces, and hope.

100 Word Wednesday: Week 90

https://rugby843.blog

When the Beatles decided to become a group and then became a popular band, they were given many songs written by wannabe lyricists who wanted to claim a Beatles’ hit on their resume.

One such manuscript included a song which included the words yellow umbrellas. The author was extremely disappointed when his words were rejected, only to later hear “Yellow Submarine” on the radio, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

September Writing Prompts

Okay, I have just about had it. That’s a phrase my mother used, probably often, and I did too as a mom and grandmother.

I am mad and I’m not taking it anymore. What can we do as citizens, men and women, to stop this parade of horrible, repulsive high office seeking individuals? Is it not bad enough we have the ultimate top dog of disgust as our president? Do we also have to install them in the highest court of our country?

I think what bothers me most is the degrading of women by these men. What a horrible example to our young boys and teens! You would think all of this behavior was acceptable. It certainly is not! But it must be or these people would not even be considered to run for any office!

I know for a fact there are plenty of good men out there, a huge majority, of course, so why choose these ne-er- do-wells for any office at all? Let them crawl back under their rocks and suffer the consequences of their behavior. Is it the “good old boy” syndrome, money, connections? What gets them anywhere near offices like these?

Trump saying, why didn’t these women come out earlier? Anyone, anyone? Bueller? The answer is obvious to anyone who is not a mysogynist. This movement of women is way overdue. The weaker sex is no longer accepting that title. If these perpetrators think they can still get away with disgusting behavior they have another think coming.

There has to be a change. Good people have to step up. It’s time to set a good example to our younger generation. It starts with parents of course, but look at the leadership examples we have now. How do we explain that to our children?

How are you explaining it to your children? Are you voting? Are you protesting? Here in Cheyenne there was a big protest group against a dog shelter supervisor for his treatment of a dog. Yes it was bad, but people, if you get off your couch for a dog, why can’t you get off your couch for your fellow man?

Okay, done, I think. I’m not promising I won’t be back. But hey, there’s always the handy delete button.

https://rugby843.blog

“But those aren’t the ones!” Sally pleaded with her mother for a pair of gold sandals. They had to have a light colored flat footbed. After perusing the footwear stores in town, Sally’s mother was exhausted. You wouldn’t think a seven year old would even know what a flat footbed meant, but fashion is fashion and Sally and her friend Mona always wanted to be twins.

It never occurred to the two young girls they couldn’t be actual twins, since Sally was black and Mona was white. They had been best friends since preschool and practically inseparable when they weren’t in school. They convinced their mothers to dress them in the same outfits at least three days a week.

The sandals Mona found were bright gold strapped sandals. She was in love immediately but never thought Sally couldn’t also get them. A special school event was coming up and Mona thought the sandals would be perfect with their gold trimmed dresses.

The display in front of Sally and her mom didn’t show them. Her friend had bought hers at Target but Sally’s size was not available. Not to be deterred, Sally’s mother found the desired pair online and ordered them. Now Sally would stop searching and once again the girls were twins.

https://flashfictionforaspiringwriters.wordpress.com/2018/09/24/fffaw-challenge-184th/

This is my abode, held here by my own hand. I hold it only a short time for you to observe. This house represents my life, at the present time only. Things and circumstances change almost daily. The ladder you see is blocked by my altar ego, Manny. He thinks you should not enter and keeps my friends away at times. As you also see I am portrayed in the window in severe distress, but that’s almost over, the day is almost done.

My fingers splayed and seemingly dissipating into thin air are meant to show my fragility. Even the moon behind is a temporary vision, for it too, is only a slight indication of the coming night.

The viper curled around my thumb is my past, trying to poison my every day existence. You may think this all disconcerting, and it is meant to be. But what you see now is fading into the night.

The moon will fill out in the darkness, the snake will drop and curl into its lair, and Manny will disappear until morning.

****

Thanks to Kira, the artist who created this image.

Kira’s Sunday Scribbles – Word of the Day Challenge

Sweet vibrations the prompt for today can be interpreted many ways. You might want to delete right now. . .just kidding. I try to keep my posts above the R rating and a warning if I don’t.

The first thing that came to mind was my husband’s love of the Beach Boys and of course, this song:

The Beach Boys were never a favorite of mine. Okay, stop throwing those surf boards at me! I know there are die hard fans here. I must admit I had new respect for their craft after seeing the documentary about them.

For a true sweet vibrations I would suggest a blender, vanilla ice cream, milk, and chocolate sauce. Mix to your liking and top with whipped cream and a cherry–the stemmed ones for easy handling and sharing–oohlala. 😘Chocolate cherry is a favorite flavor of mine. Pretty soon they’ll bring out the holiday candy for Christmas and every year I buy a box of dark chocolate covered cherries, liquid filled chocolates. One box. I also like Ben and Jerry’s ice cream flavor:

Or you could forego the vanilla and use this instead. Never tried it. Bet it would be good!

🍒🍒🍒🍒

http://puttingmyfeetinthedirt.com/2018/09/01/september-writing-prompts-2/

“Geez, would you look at that? Who knew those squirrels were so talented? I don’t know about you, Tim, but I think that’s spectacular!”

“So, a few leaves put into a design, so? Any rodent with tiny hands could do it, just takes patience!”

“Well if you think I’d try it, you’re nuts! Besides, I think my wings would disturb everything as soon as I tried to fly off for another leaf. Nope, not my thing.”

“Mine either”.

The two crows settled back down on the now barren tree branch, not necessarily enjoying the lack of foliage on their home.

https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2018/09/25/photo-challenge-231/